12th's 5 Reasons Why The Skins Beat N.E.

[12thMan]

Am I guilty of being a homer by starting this thread, perhaps. But no more guilty than the pundits and talking heads chalking up a win for the Patriots this week.

I think there is a lot of cautious optimism surrounding this game, and for good reason. Even here on Warpath, our inner Redskin is telling us to believe...believe. So Skins fans, turn off your ESPN this week, light those scented candles, and stay plugged into Warpath until kickoff!!


1) The Defense: Plain and simple this is the best defense the Pats have faced all year. The Patriots are the only team in the NFL to score on every opening drive this season. Defensively, the Skins are right near the top in that same category. Get the picture? We stop them on their first drive and it sets the tone for, at the very least, the first half. Second half, that's another story...

2) Will the real Al Saunders please stand up: I'm betting on a master gameplan from coach Al Saunders. Coach Bill will throw a lot of different looks at JC and I don't think the three and out gameplan will cut it this week. Look for Saunders and Gibbs to attack early and often. I have a good feeling Saunders will give them enough reasons not to stack the box early in the game. This will be the other Moss' coming out party for 2007. You watch!

3) Special Teams: Derrick Frost will keep their offense on a long field and Rock Cartwright will give us good starting field position on returns. If so, this will drastically change the dynamics of the game. Field position, baby.

4) Sean Taylor: 12th, you just talked about the defense, didn't you? Yes, but Mr. Taylor will be to our defense on Sunday what Moss is to their offense. Sean Taylor has been the sole reason teams have been so ineffective going downtown on the Redskins this year, and he's licking his chops for pick #6 and #7. The Brady Bunch hasn't played such a saftey combo like this one. Look for Taylor to break up and pick a couple of Brady bombs early in the game, because you know they'll be flying.

5) Pride: I really think this team knows they are better than what they've showed so far, and New England had better be ready for a really ugly game. No one has really hit New England in the mouth this year, and the Redskins are just the team to kick them out of cruise control mode. I also get the feeling that this team responds well to, not so much adversity, but when everyone has counted us out and gives us no chance. As T.O. said, get your popcorn ready!

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

Am I guilty of being a homer by starting this thread, perhaps. But no more guilty than the pundits and talking heads chalking up a win for the Patriots this week.

I think there is a lot of cautious optimism surrounding this game, and for good reason. Even here on Warpath, our inner Redskin is telling us to believe...believe. So Skins fans, turn off your ESPN this week, light those scented candles, and stay plugged into Warpath until kickoff!!


1) The Defense: Plain and simple this is the best defense the Pats have faced all year. The Patriots are the only team in the NFL to score on every opening drive this season. Defensively, the Skins are right near the top in that same category. Get the picture? We stop them on their first drive and it sets the tone for, at the very least, the first half. Second half, that's another story...

2) Will the real Al Saunders please stand up: I'm betting on a master gameplan from coach Al Saunders. Coach Bill will throw a lot of different looks at JC and I don't think the three and out gameplan will cut it this week. Look for Saunders and Gibbs to attack early and often. I have a good feeling Saunders will give them enough reasons not to stack the box early in the game. This will be the other Moss' coming out party for 2007. You watch!

3) Special Teams: Derrick Frost will keep their offense on a long field and Rock Cartwright will give us good starting field position on returns. If so, this will drastically change the dynamics of the game. Field position, baby.

4) Sean Taylor: 12th, you just talked about the defense, didn't you? Yes, but Mr. Taylor will be to our defense on Sunday what Moss is to their offense. Sean Taylor has been the sole reason teams have been so ineffective going downtown on the Redskins this year, and he's licking his chops for pick #6 and #7. The Brady Bunch hasn't played such a saftey combo like this one. Look for Taylor to break up and pick a couple of Brady bombs early in the game, because you know they'll be flying.

5) Pride: I really think this team knows they are better than what they've showed so far, and New England had better be ready for a really ugly game. No one has really hit New England in the mouth this year, and the Redskins are just the team to kick them out of cruise control mode. I also get the feeling that this team responds well to, not so much adversity, but when everyone has counted us out and gives us no chance. As T.O. said, get your popcorn ready!

LMAO. Total homerism at it's best.

NE is just a better football team. They have better players, and they are better coached. However, if we get a few turnovers and don't turn it over we have a chance. A small chance.

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

LMAO. Total homerism at it's best.

NE is just a better football team. They have better players, and they are better coached. However, if we get a few turnovers and don't turn it over we have a chance. A small chance.

Homerism or not, New England has seven wins this season. Five of which were against the bottom five total defenses in the league. If they think Washington will be a pushover, they're sadly mistaken.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by Southpaw

Homerism or not, New England has seven wins this season. Five of which were against the bottom five total defenses in the league. If they think Washington will be a pushover, they're sadly mistaken.

They scored 49 against Miami and could have scored more. . We scored 13. What does that say about us?

[MTK]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

They scored 49 against Miami and could have scored more. . We scored 13. What does that say about us?

It says nothing, it's fuzzy logic that really doesn't mean anything.

And we actually scored 16.

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

They scored 49 against Miami and could have scored more. . We scored 13. What does that say about us?

If anything costs Washington the game, it will be the inability of the offense to score points, but it certainly won't be because of the defense. The only prediction I'll make this week is the Pats will have their lowest scoring output of the season.

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

IF you look at it this way the Pats schedule of teams they beat are 17-28 (6-1 have come from the Cowboys) So maybe it not the Pats being so dominant its just they havent played anyone.

I am saying it if the Cowboys had a pass defense at all they would have beaten the Pats.

The Pats are like LSU before they played Florida and Kentucky and Auburn. The Redskins defense will slow them down.

[ArtMonkDrillz]

Originally Posted by Southpaw

If anything costs Washington the game, it will be the inability of the offense to score points, but it certainly won't be because of the defense. The only prediction I'll make this week is the Pats will have their lowest scoring output of the season.

That's what I've been saying since last week.
I really feel like our defense will surprise them and rough them up a bit more than they might expect, especially if they're peeking past us (I say peeking because I think they're too good to be caught completely looking past anyone) to next week.
However, I'm just worried about what their defense will do to our banged up O-line.

I think it could be interesting and I refuse to completely count us out. At the same time, I think that it is entirely possible to prove yourself in a losing effort, so I hope we really show the world something if we happen to lose.

[skinsfan_nn]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

They scored 49 against Miami and could have scored more. . We scored 13. What does that say about us?

Wrong answer the final was 16-13 SKINS, and all that says is we WON the game in OT, thats ALL that says about us.

We CAN win another close one, hope the gaytriots are looking right past us to the colts, they will be in for a suprise.

[SFREDSKIN]

You forgot the 6th reason, It's a Gibbs coached team , not Wade Phillips, Norv, etc. We will not get blown off the field like the rest, we will give more than they can handle.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by SFREDSKIN

You forgot the 6th reason, It's a Gibbs coached team , not Wade Phillips, Norv, etc. We will not get blown off the field like the rest, we will give more than they can handle.

Huh??? So GW has nothing to do with it? Where would we be w/out GW's defense this year?

[SFREDSKIN]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

Huh??? So GW has nothing to do with it? Where would we be w/out GW's defense this year?

Who coaches the team Gibbs or Williams? Who hired Williams? I know the offense isn't up to par yet, but we do have an offense, we are not only a defense team.

[BrudLee]

Originally Posted by Southpaw

Homerism or not, New England has seven wins this season. Five of which were against the bottom five total defenses in the league. If they think Washington will be a pushover, they're sadly mistaken.

Defensive ranks for those teams may be overblown. After all, they had to play the Pats. That can't help your stats.

My feeling with the Pats right now is that they haven't been the defensive team that they could be. The allowed 28 points to Miami - 21 after Ronnie "the Dolphins only offensive weapon" Brown was lost for the game (and season). Was the defense already celebrating the victory? If that's the case, it speaks volumes to their focus. Given that the media is already hyping next week's Pats/Colts game, we may be playing out as a classic "trap game".

I don't think it will happen, though I know it can.

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by BrudLee

Defensive ranks for those teams may be overblown. After all, they had to play the Pats. That can't help your stats.

Washington has already faced some ridiculous passing attacks, and held them im check for the most part. I just don't see the Pats running away with this one unless the O line play is as poor as it was last week, and the offense is completely unable to sustain drives... so I guess I'm optimistic about the first half...

[BDBohnzie]

Originally Posted by BrudLee

My feeling with the Pats right now is that they haven't been the defensive team that they could be. The allowed 28 points to Miami - 21 after Ronnie "the Dolphins only offensive weapon" Brown was lost for the game (and season). Was the defense already celebrating the victory? If that's the case, it speaks volumes to their focus. Given that the media is already hyping next week's Pats/Colts game, we may be playing out as a classic "trap game".

The Miami game is what worries me. Forget their offense, Belicheck is pissed off because the defense gave up 28 points on Sunday, to a backup QB and backup RB for most of the game. Their defense is very respectable, and will be honed in for Sunday. Saunders has to be prepared for this.

The only clique that best fits the Skins and their hopes is "Any Given Sunday..." because they will have to bring their A+ game, and hope the Pats are C or worse in order to make it happen.

My heart says this game is close and comes down to the wire. My head says the Skins don't cover the spread, but the Pats don't put up 30+ for the first time all year.